Talei maps future plans

Former national rep Netani Talei and Rachel Anne Hobbs during their training at National Fitness Centre. Picture: RAMA

FORMER Fiji Airways Flying Fijians player Netani Talei has plans in the near future to conduct fitness and strength programs in a bid to help local athletes achieve their goals.

Talei, who was part of the historic Fiji team at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, and his partner Rachel Anne Hobbs arrived in the country earlier this month. They saw Fiji as an ideal location to run their programs.

"Me and my partner (Hobbs) are in Fiji. We are looking for opportunities in Fiji for both of us. We are running fitness programs, strength programs, I also coach a lot of elite young players at the age of 16 to 18. Fiji is the best place I can come to, share my experience in terms of becoming a rugby player or just an athlete in general," he said.

"At the moment we are trying to find what the population is into, right now I see a lot of players hitting the gym more than the last five years because sports is generating a lot of income for the nation and I think it is the way forward, hopefully I can come and set up something in Fiji and train these rugby players who want to become Flying Fijians, All Blacks, Wallabies or secure contracts overseas."

Talei believes it is vital for athletes to get the right sort of training to assist in their development.

"It is good to see athletes in the gym but disappointing not to see them pointed in the right direction - technique wise, all these guys coming and lifting heavy weights without the right form, two three months' time they are prone to injuries , that's what we want to implement and bring to Fiji," he said.

The former Flying Fijian skipper said the visit allowed him to visit his family and friends.

Meanwhile Talei's partner Hobbs is a registered health and performance dietitian and founder of the Nutrition Clinic. She has been voted as one of the world's top personal trainers.

She also won the European Powerlifting competition and in the process breaking the powerlifting records.